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The destination of the 2018 World Cup finals is about to be revealed in Zurich, and for my money that destination will be Spain-Portugal.
But however it turns out, there is no doubt in my mind where the 2022 finals are heading – the United States.
The US withdrew their bid for the 2018 World Cup because, according to the chairman of their bid committee, Sunil Gulati, they had no chance of winning it and they want to concentrate on bidding for the World Cup after that.
From my viewpoint in the United States, I think they will definitely get those World Cup finals in 2022. I think it’s a stick-on certainty.
The 1994 World Cup finals in the US were incredibly successful, both in terms of their impact in the States and worldwide.
The tournament drew the highest average crowds in World Cup history, and work is already under way to renovate the Rose Bowl stadium so it will hold 87,000 people for the World Cup final.
The United States has plenty of world class stadiums, and they know how to put on a big event better than anyone in the world. Look at what they do with the Super Bowl.
I think the way the 1994 finals were broadcast and promoted worldwide was excellent, and the Americans can do even better next time around.
My view is that, now the United States are concentrating on 2022, their only serious rival will be Australia. I think the decision will end up being between these two countries, and that the States will win.
The only danger to the US getting the World Cup would be if FIFA decided to broaden their horizons by taking the finals to Australia. I have to say I think it would probably mean more to Australia that it would to the US.
But FIFA should be looking at putting on the best possible World Cup. They know the US can do the job. But do they know that about Australia? They would be doing it for the first time, and I’m not even sure they have the stadiums required.
One of the reasons why the United States got the 1994 World Cup was the hope that it would be a springboard for the national game. But you have to say it didn’t have a dynamic effect.
Then again, do you really believe that South Africa is going to become one of the footballing capitals of the world just because it staged the World Cup finals? I don’t think so.
Actually, I don’t think the US game is in any better shape now than it was then. It’s no further along in terms of the football being played. But I do think that Major League Soccer has raised its profile well with players such as Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg and David Beckham getting involved.
Beckham’s football in the States hasn’t been great, but the way he has raised awareness of the game there has been a major factor.
And I think you have also got to consider this – by my reckoning, four Premier League teams now have American owners. I wouldn’t know exactly how, but when big decisions like this are made in football, that must carry some weight.
Rodney Marsh is one of the most charismatic and entertaining players to have graced English football. He played more than 400 games and scored over 150 goals during a career at Queen’s Park Rangers, Manchester City and Fulham which saw him win nine England caps. He was also one of the early pioneers of English players to carve out a name for himself in the United States, scoring 41 goals in 87 appearances for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Marsh is now a popular and respected pundit who will be writing regularly for insideworldfootball.